Around the Town: Travel, Art &amp; Books

Friday, December 10, 2021

Talking Sunsets with William Robert Stanek - the Michelangelo of Sunsets

The global pandemic devastated our company and forced us to permanently close our physically galleries around the world. We’re trying to keep the dream alive by moving online and in this way strive to support the nearly 100 photographers we’ve worked with in the past. It will take innumerable sales and many years to claw our way back to even, but we’re confident with your help we can succeed.

Many of our photographers and their families have gone more than 2 years without steady income. If you help us keep the dream alive, we can continue to deliver great art to the world at fantastic prices! Not only that, we can continue to reward our partner photographers. 80% of our profits from all sales go to the artists themselves to support their work and their families.

But without your support the dream will die. We won’t be able to keep alive the work of our photographers. Please bookmark our site and tell others about our beautiful artwork available and fine art photography. Thank you!

In this post a brief Q&A about from a past interview with William Robert Stanek talks about Sunset Photography

William, your unique perspectives are celebrated for their natural colors and stunning use of natural light. You've been called the Michelangelo of sunsets.

"Well, yes," William says smiling, "It’s better than Mr. Sunset, I guess."

Yes, you’ve also been named Mr. Sunset, and no wonder your sunsets are breathtaking. What's your secret?

"Patience," William says, "I never rush when it comes to sunsets. I set up, watch and wait. I watch the sunset begin, evolve and descend below the horizon, taking pictures over time."

Your sunsets are some of--if not the--most beautiful in the world. The colors are mind-blowing.

"Capturing the perfect sunset, rich and deep, full of color, takes a great deal of work," William says. "Hours. Most people don’t realize sunsets change throughout the year like the seasons themselves and are also affected by your vantage point and the lighting."

Lighting? We’re talking about sunsets.

"I know sunsets are nothing but light. Except the perfect sunset depends on the sky, whether it's cloudy or has rained recently, whether your view to the sun is clear or partially blocked, more."

I guess that’s why you’re Mr. Sunset. You once said some of the most beautiful sunsets happen after the sun has set. Can you explain?

"I did," William says, "and they do. Sometimes the most bold and rich colors can be captured just after sunset rather than before. Patience, always with sunsets."

Thank you for being on the podcast today. "Glad I found the time. Just as easy as you said it would be."

Find William's fine art photography and prints from his original oil paintings in the online studios:

360 Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/360.Studios

1North Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/1north

Studio 24 - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/24

Robert Stanek Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/robert.stanek

360 Studios is the parent company of 1North Studios, Studio 24, and the creative studios of Robert Stanek. During their decades in operation, their family of galleries represented nearly 100 professional artists and photographers.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Talking Art Collecting with William Robert Stanek

The global pandemic devastated our company and forced us to permanently close our physically galleries around the world. We’re trying to keep the dream alive by moving online. Many of our photographers and their families have gone more than 2 years without steady income. If you help us keep the dream alive, we can continue to deliver great art at fantastic prices!

Today, we're going to talk with our founder, William Robert Stanek, about art collecting. But first, some background. Did you know? From homeless at 17 to celebrated author and artist, it's been a long road for William. His English teacher in the 4th grade recognized his writing skills and encouraged him to write, as did his Uncle Wally, and both of whom told William to never stop.

At 17, in his senior year of high school, William found himself homeless and living in his car, but still managed to finish high school. After graduation, he joined the US Air Force. Military service brought William to fields of combat and special operations duties in foreign lands around the world. During deployments, there was never a day William didn’t look death in the face and find death looking back.

Because of that service, William says he will always know that when the darkest of hours arrives he will not hesitate. Yet it was also because of that service that William discovered his passion for art... Here's what William has to say about his early art experience with Robert Wyland and Wyland Galleries.

"In 1986, at the age of 19, passing through Hawaii on my way to my first duty station, I stopped in a gallery owned by a little known artist who introduced himself to me as Robert Wyland. I was fascinated by his original oil on canvas paintings and particularly smitten with one featuring whales. This was a very large original oil on canvas, about 6’ in length as I remember it, with a list price was somewhere above $4000, and I managed to talk Robert down to $3500. Being homeless at 17 taught me a lot about saving and value, I’d saved every penny of my military pay that I could during boot camp and twelve months of training school and I knew value when I saw it. I wanted the painting more than the car I was saving up for."

"There was another smaller piece featuring dolphins that we negotiated as well. I left the gallery with Wyland’s card and price quotes written on the back, determined to scrape together the money. The day before I left the islands, I went back to the gallery, but hadn’t put together the money, so I browsed limited prints and settled on a few I loved. An associate of Wyland’s put three prints aside for me, and I rushed out to get the cash from the bank, about $650, but I never made it back. My military flight got moved up and I had to rush to the base to head off to my duty station in Japan."

"Today, just thinking about it, I’m crushed. Not because each of those prints is worth more than the average home or because the original oils are worth many millions, but because of all the days and years of joy I missed... Buy art because you love it, enjoy it each day, and you’ll have no regrets. Prints, especially limited prints, can appreciate in value just like original work on canvas, so prints can be an investment too, but the joy of ownership is the best part, even if your art collection is only one piece."

"Fill your days with beauty and joy. Start with one print of something you truly love and work your way from there." - William Robert Stanek

Please visit our galleries online....

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Talking Landscape Photography and Waterfalls with Hui Cha Stanek

As long as he's been a writer, William Robert Stanek has been an artist and photographer. For most of his career, his original works of, paintings and fine art photography, were handled by World Galleries and also featured around the world in independently owned galleries and in branded studios. Now, he and his wife regained control over his studio brands, including 360 Studios, 1North Studios, Studio 24 and Robert Stanek Studios, moving to virtual galleries online.

Here's a quick Q&A with Hui Cha Stanek from a past interview about William's Landscape Photography

William’s landscapes, especially his waterfalls, are truly stunning. Few others even come close to his level. What’s your work together like?

"We’ve worked together so many years," Hui Cha says. "We have a rhythm. It works, but we don’t just show up and start taking pictures. There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes."

You’re talking about planning before you go out to a location? How does that work?

"We pick locations and study the area," Hui Cha says. "Everything is timed so that our arrival is optimal. The right time of day, the right time of year, the right positioning, the right equipment. All of this means that once we go, William can just do his thing."

You’re being modest. You’re always there with William and behind the scenes in the planning. Aren’t you?

"Yes, I am with him," Hui Cha says smiling, "By the time we’re on location though, I tend to stay out of his way and let him do what he needs to do. I’m there to assist when he needs me."

Sometimes things happen on location. You can’t control the weather. Things like that.

"True," Hui Cha says, "we do our best to optimize travel based on forecasts, but you can’t predict the future. You can’t control traffic, closures and such either."

William’s the guy others try to emulate in their work, especially in landscape photography, even if they don’t realize it. How do you feel about that?

"William and I have been doing this for thirty years. Our work is everywhere. It’d be disappointing if we weren’t seen as setting the standard others are trying to achieve."

William’s use of natural light always amazes. More amazing, year after year, he does things differently than others, even himself. You’re with him behind the scenes. How does he capture, say a waterfall, in a way no one else has?

"By thinking differently," Hui Cha says, "by not just showing up, by studying and watching.”

To help everyone understand this, can you give an example?

“Sure," Hui Cha says. "In Adelboden, William studied the falls from a distance for days before going out to the site, not to mention all the driving we did around the area to get to know the lighting."

And the results are breathtaking...

"I think they are," Hui Cha says smiling. "You never know what the day will truly bring until you’re there, but sometimes it all comes together just right."

Thank you for talking with us!

"Glad we could. Until next time!"

Find William's fine art photography and prints from his original oil paintings in the online studios:

360 Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/360.Studios

1North Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/1north

Studio 24 - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/24

Robert Stanek Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/robert.stanek

Saturday, July 3, 2021

Learning about Art with Hui Cha Stanek

But without your support the dream will die. We won’t be able to keep alive the work of our photographers.

In this Q&A from a past interview Hui Cha Stanek talks about the basics of art selection.

What about those who aren't familiar with art and don't know where to begin? What basics can you tell them about choose art?

The medium is important. Although stretched canvas prints are the #1 most popular choice, we also like the brilliant colors and unmatched beauty of HD Metal prints. Why? HD Metal prints include a back frame and are ready to hang without needing any extras. With HD Metal prints, you also don’t need to decide on which finishing coating to use. You get a high-gloss finish automatically at no extra cost.

Sizing art can be difficult. Can you provide some sizing tips?

For a master bedroom where art will be hung on either side of the bed, 30 x 20 inches (77 x 51 cm) or a few inches either way is usually just about perfect. This also is a good size wherever a single artwork will be used to accent, such as over the bed in a guest bedroom, in a hallway, dining room or kitchen.

With framed art, don’t forget the frame adds to the size, so you might want to start with a smaller size artwork. For example, the 1.5" gallery wrap frame adds a total of 3" all around to the size of the artwork. Thus, if you wanted a finished size of about 30 x 20 inches (77 x 51 cm), you’d want to start with art that was about 27 x 17 inches or a few inches either way.

What about sizing art for other rooms in your home?

For feature art in your home or office, another size that’s usually just about perfect is around 42 x 28 inches (108 x 72 cm) or a few inches either way. If you want artwork to dominate most any room you may find that 60 x 48 inches (154 x 123 cm) or a few inches either way fills the need.

For large bathrooms, 24 x 16 inches (62 x 41 cm) is often ideal for centerpiece art, yet if you want to hang two artworks, you’ll usually want something smaller, say 16x12 inches for a master bathroom or 12x10 inches for a half bathroom. Again, don’t forget these are finished sizes, including any wrapping frame.

Anything else you'd like to share?

Thank you for bringing me on your podcast again. Once of the last things I'd like to say about our art is that we provide free shipping and easy returns in the USA and Canada. In the rest of the world, you’ll find rolled prints are really easy and low-cost to ship just about anywhere. When you receive the rolled print, you can pick out a frame locally and then hang the artwork in your home.

Please visit our galleries online....

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Talking Careers & Photoshoots with William Robert Stanek

Did you know? As a successful, notable writer, photographer and artist, William Robert Stanek has met CEOs, presidents and royals, and yet it was a meeting with Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush in the early 1990s that he remembers most vividly. Both were trustees of the National Awards program at the Freedoms Foundation at the time, and he had recently received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his wartime service to the USA and the George Washington Honor Medal from the foundation.

“It was an honor,” William says, to have those great men shake his hand and mean it when they congratulated him for his achievements, but for William those moments marked a beginning, for in his view he had not yet achieved anything. And so he set out determined to make his mark on the world. Decades later, most would agree he has indeed succeeded.

Here's a Q&A with William Robert Stanek from a past interview...

For aspiring creatives and those who collect your work, can you talk about your creative process?

"Every artwork begins with a plan. Planning is a huge part of my success," William says. "My wife and I work out the locations we'll visit and then plan how the photoshoot at each will progress."

Photo shoot. For you, what is a photoshoot?

"It's where we capture the essence of the location in a series of images," William says. "Each photoshoot is different, unique and our planning is fluid enough so we can make changes on site."

Your work is celebrated for your use of light and shadow. How do you achieve such spectacular results?

"Experience is key," William says, "having an intimate understanding of the many ways the lenses and cameras I use capture the scene, understanding the way light changes throughout the day, the way light changes in different seasons, the way light changes in different parts of the world... More..."

Talent is what you really mean, but you're being modest?

"Talent, raw and refined, is essential to success," William says. "A great artist seeks to capture the essence of a location in ways others haven't or at the least in ways that are different and unique to them."

Think differently? But you also have favorite locations that I see in your work?

"Exactly, think differently," William says. "As for favorites, how could I not? There's too much beauty in the world, not to. I enjoy seeing how my favorites change through the seasons and over time, so I return and capture their essence as it exists in that new moment."

Thank you for your time today!

"Glad to be here. It was a pleasure to talk with you."

Please visit our galleries online....